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Beat-boxing, phone-taking Hanley is here to help
Jannat Shejuty
 Susan Hanley is a familiar face at Alvirne as Dean of Students. Yet more than an administrator, Hanley cares deeply for the students she leads and enjoys imparting her wisdom to the Alvirne community. She wants students to realize that every choice they make has a consequence and it affects their lives.
“When people make good choices there are good results,” she said. “Every action has a reaction. Students should focus on their present the most instead of past.”
Hanley has been working in Alvirne for the last four years. Before becoming Dean of Students at Alvirne, she was an assistant principle in a small school. She was then inspired to work in a larger school like Alvirne.
Beyond her work as dean, Hanley is quite a colorful character. She has three children, two daughters and a son. Two of them are out of college and one is still in college. Hanley herself is one of nine siblings. And when not working in the education field, Hanley loves to ski, work out at the gym, read, and bike ride.
Hanley also, as some may have noticed during the morning announcements, has a talent for beat boxing. She admitted she didn’t learn or practice beforehand, but did it on the spot in front of the camera.
Hanley grew up in Lebanon, NH. She got her Bachelor of Business Administration at Plymouth State University, received a degree in business education from Notre Dame College, a masters of education degree in school leadership from Rivier College, and a masters degree from Fitchburg State College.
Before working at Alvirne, Hanley was a teacher of computer and business classes in high schools and middle schools for thirteen years. Her work earned her a spot as runner up for the 2002 Teacher of the Year Award for the state of New Hampshire.
But Hanley has grown to love her new role at Alvirne High School. She loves spirit week, video night, prom, and semiformal because she enjoys seeing school spirit and students connecting.
Although she sometimes feels like being an academic teacher again, she thinks her current job teaches students how to behave. She likes her current job at Alvirne, but she dislikes rude students. Hanley wishes that students would realize that she has a disciplinary job, and the strictness that comes from her is part of her job. Many students have already grown to respect this part of Hanley’s work.
“I love Mrs. Hanley,” said senior Marisa O’Gara. “She doesn’t get enough credit. Show her some respect and she will give it back to you. I really enjoy talking with her and I think she does her job well.”
“Ms. Hanley is cool,” said senior Ashley Dutil. “I think the majority of students don’t realize that she is just doing her job.”
Hanley thinks that the things that are going on with today’s youth are very fast paced and kids are in hurry to grow up. She hopes young people learn to slow down and focus on their present and their education. She wants youth to rise up against negative influences, like violence and bad language. Hanley hopes to impart these values at Alvirne for a long time to come.
Said her coworker Timothy Broderick, “She’s a good person to work with.”
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